Arcane Academy: The Divine Extraction Legacy

Chapter 1240: The Queenʼs Secrets

The next morning, Dravemont was immediately filled with various conversations about the upcoming competition…

Street vendors shouted headlines, waving papers high above the crowd.

Citizens clustered around bulletin boards with their eyes scanning the bold letters. Even some nobles lingered in carriages, sending servants to fetch copies of the newspapers…

Of course, the taverns also opened early, with their tables set with various newspapers.

No one seemed troubled by the mention of demon blood or dragon heritage. Forbidden arts were permitted in this tournament, and the people accepted that fact.

What mattered was information, names, abilities, bloodlines, specialties. Every detail could shift the betting odds.

Indeed! They needed to earn well in this competition! It could change their lives after all.

”Did you see the Crimson Gazette?” one merchant exclaimed, slapping the paper against his palm. ”Dragon blood in Combat Arts! If thatʼs true, Soraʼs odds will skyrocket. That guys will win! What do you think?”

”Bah,” another scoffed, holding the Azure Herald. ”Forget dragons. Itʼs not like a 13-year-old kid can control it… I trust that student from Langhorne instead… His father has the title of the Martial King who fought on equal agains the Thunder Emperor… Thatʼs something, you know? Also, look at the Azure Sky students. Original spells, crafted from the miracles of their headmasters. Thatʼs where the smart coin goes.”

At a nearby stall, others discussed the article written by the Millton Times.

”Queen Sabrinaʼs miracles! If she blesses the tournament, her favored academy will surely rise.”

”Donʼt be foolish. The queenʼs reforms are political. The competition is about strength. Anyway, just listen to her opening speech later… She might give us a clue which academy we should bet on.”

Just like that, the betting houses thrived. Lines stretched down the streets as citizens placed wagers. Odds shifted by the hour, driven not by battles but by headlines.

Soraʼs rumored dragon blood made him one of the favorites in Combat Arts.

Corvane of Farrel Academy also drew attention, including Liza of Magrath Academy… However, Mathias, Mariel, and Ruth of the Rune Arts category didnʼt gather a lot of attention…

As a matter of fact, Amaya, Vin, and Brannic of Transformation Arts also faded from the hot topics. Their demon blood was scandalous, but also thrilling, but they were risky bets since they could become demonic and it might be a problem if they supported such students.

Nonetheless, the bookmakers smiled at this situation since every rumor was profitable.

In taverns, debates grew heated.

Coins clinked across tables as wagers were made on the spot.

Selric of the Crimson Gazette watched it all with satisfaction. His article had stirred the city, and of course, their newspaper sold faster than any rival.

Yet he knew the frenzy was not his alone. Every paper had played its part. Together, they had turned curiosity into obsession.

The citizens did not care about scandal. They cared about spectacle!

To them, demon blood was not a curse… it was entertainment.

The tournament was no longer just a contest of academies. It was a marketplace of odds to earn money that could last them for years!

Now, all that remained was the opening ceremony!

***

Thankfully, they didnʼt have to wait for long as the day of the opening ceremony arrived, and Dravemontʼs grand coliseum was filled with crowd from all over the world.

Sixty Arcane Academies from across the continent had gathered. They all carried their banners and it was fluttering in the wind… Behind their banners, their students lined in disciplined rows.

The coliseum itself was vast, built to hold tens of thousands.

Citizens filled the stands, nobles occupied the golden balconies, and reporters crowded the press platforms…

Needless to say, they have their enchanted lenses glowing as they capture every moment.

Betting houses had already posted odds outside the gates, and wagers continued even as the ceremony began.

The students stood at the center…

All of them wore the uniforms of their academy, making the place look like a party of colors…

Still, most Academies here focused on a single Arcane Path…

It means that the Langhorne Academy, which only focused on Combat Arts, had its students wear something that made them look like Martial Artists.

Rune Arts Academies made their students look like scholars with runes etched into their robes, Psychic Arts Academies also looked the same.

However, those students from Transformation Arts Academies seemed to have loose uniforms compared to others…

Because of that, the Marshall Academyʼs students, a total of 36 of them, were able to gather a lot of attention.

After all, the Marshall Academy was the only Arcane Academy in existence that teaches all twelve Arcane Arts!

***

Soon, the noise fell silent as Queen Sabrina appeared.

She descended from the royal balcony, clad in flowing silver robes with her crown looking as if it was glowing under the morning sun.

Thud…

The crowd rose to its feet, with eyes fixed on the queen who had turned their country into prosperity.

”Welcome,” she began, her voice carrying effortlessly across the coliseum.

”Today, sixty academies stand united in spirit, though divided in contest. You are the pride of your kingdoms, the future of our continent, and the flame that will guide generations to come.”

Her words resonated, and the students straightened, their eyes burning with determination.

”This competition,” she continued, ”will not be confined to one arena. It will test you across the whole of Dravemont. In the coliseum, there will be duels of strength and skill. In the grand arena, you will see the spellcasters fight... In the open fields, weʼll see the battle of summoners…”

The crowd erupted in cheers. This was a huge competition, so it was normal to divide the events in various places…

Then came the moment everyone awaited… the rewards.

”To the champions… They will be granted treasures beyond measure. The winning academy will also receive the Crownʼs Blessing, resources, lands, and privileges bestowed by the throne…”

Queen Sabrina continued talking about the rewards… However, Vale was already frozen as soon as he saw her!

”Sabrina Hoffman?!” Vale was shocked as he didnʼt expect her to appear here!